The Capel was excited to welcome Jim Ghedi and Douglas MacGregor, two innovative guitar players, as part of their UK tour. Both artists demonstrate a thoughtful and rigorous experimental approach to their guitar practice both in terms of playing and composing.

Having heard by word of mouth about the Capel and its exciting acoustics, Jim Ghedi approached me to ask about the potential to use the space as part of his and Douglas MacGregor’s UK tour. After listening to their work and being excited with previous projects each have undertaken, the Capel and I opened a dialogue with Jim and Douglas; could the Capel offer something more than being a venue for a one off gig? Would they be open to spending time at the capel and its surrounding area to experiment and develop their practice? A particular meeting of sensibilities emerged during further discussions and subsequently Jim’s and Douglas’s extended time here proved fruitful and valuable for them, the Capel and the audience. A real sense of being and emerging ‘with’ the capel gave birth to risk taking, creation of new pieces and re imaginings of previous work and ideas to take forward to new contexts and audiences. The experience has left an ongoing resonance within the capel.

Douglas MacGregor, Capel Y Graig, 2016

Jim Ghedi, Capel Y Graig, 2016

Douglas MacGregor, Capel Y Graig, 2016

Douglas MacGregor, Capel Y Graig, 2016

Jim Ghedi, Capel Y Graig, 2016

Douglas MacGregor, Capel Y Graig, 2016

The guys and the Capel the morning after the gig.

Jim Ghedi introducing a piece on the Capel’s semi-functioning organ

Douglas MacGregor

‘This improvisation was convinced of in the chapel after a long walk in the surrounding valleys and hills and then performed that evening. It is named after the river that runs by the chapel, Einion.’

Douglas MacGregor’s practice blends new with old, simplicity with complexity and melody with texture to create beautiful and dynamic pieces that draw the listener into his intimate and expressive sound world. His unique style is informed by a range of influences from blues, folk and experimental music to jazz, classical and music from around the world. MacGregor’s approach to the guitar is more like an orchestra – as an instrument capable of expressing a symphony – and so he is always pushing at the boundaries of what the instrument can do while retaining the innate musical and artistic sensibility that guides his work.

Jim Ghedi is a 6 & 12 string Guitarist based in Sheffield, England. His current work has taken inspiration in specific locations around Britain, exploring a connection with rural land and it’s heritage. Drawing up some interesting genre-crossing ideas musically around a rooted concept of Ancient Land. He explores finger-style instrumental Guitar composition, with a wide repertoire of influences ranging from American Primitive, Spanish and classical music of Europe and Traditional British Folk.

Jim Ghedi’s re imagining of Banks of Mulroy Bay, an Irish gypsy folk song he learned of through a family friend. The Capel organ is semi-functioning; one of the foot bellows and a fair few keys are out of use. This ‘limitation’ in the instrument’s functioning however, actually ‘opened up’ the possibility for an exciting new development within the piece for Jim.